NorCal basketball: De La Salle ousted by Woodcreek in semifinals

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De La Salle and head coach Justin Argenal, seen here earlier in the season, suffered a tough night Tuesday, losing to Woodcreek 51-46 in the NorCal Open Division semifinals. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

The De La Salle Spartans season ended in Roseville Tuesday night in a flood of tears as the host Woodcreek Timberwolves prevailed in the California Interscholastic Federation Northern California semifinal 51-46.

De La Salle ended the season 28-6. Woodcreek improves to 31-2.

Woodcreek’s 6-foot-11 center Jordan Brown had a game-high 23 points to lead the ‘Wolves to the NorCal finals Saturday against their cross-town rival Sheldon Huskies, who beat Archbishop Mitty 56-43 in Sacramento.

The only public schools left in the NorCal Open division will meet Saturday at Santa Clara University for the right to play in the state final on March 25.

“I thought we actually did a pretty good job on Brown,” said De La Salle coach Justin Argenal. “But there were a couple of times where he got loose and got going.”

Brown is just a junior but has already garnered national recruiting interest. His spin move in the lane and a right baby hook finish tied the game at 37 with 7:13 left in the game. He was fouled on the play and buried the free throw to give the ‘Wolves their first lead since they led 10-6 in the first quarter.

“I think we just wore them down,” said Woodcreek coach Paul Hayes. “(Brown’s) main defender (Emika Udenyi) outweighed him by what seemed like 50 pounds. But he got him in foul trouble in the second half and that was key.”

Hayes credited the defensive prowess of Naequan Parker on the Spartans’ team captain and leading scorer Connor O’Dea.

O’Dea, a senior, had 11 first-half points to pace the Spartans to a 24-20 lead at the half but was held scoreless over the last 16 minutes. Justin Pratt, a junior, also had 11 points. Eric Headley and Colby Orr each had eight points.

“I was just watching his feet and went wherever they went,” said Parker of his defense against O’Dea. “I have to credit my teammates because when he got by me they were there to help out.”

O’Dea had a good look at a three-pointer with under a minute left but missed short and Woodcreek gathered the rebound. Tyrell Roberts was intentionally fouled with three seconds left but buried both free throws.

“We gave it all we had and there are no regrets,” O’Dea said, as tears fell down across his red cheeks. “They were a great team and we’re a great team. There’s only lot’s a love for my guys. Lots of love.”

Argenal set the final play for O’Dea and he had a good look but the ball fell short, as did and the team’s state title aspirations.

“O’Dea has taken and made so many big shots for us,” Argenal said. “There’s no one I’d rather take that shot than him.”

Argenal spent more than 20 minutes in the visitors’ locker room consoling his players after the final buzzer. When the doors opened, there were tears from assistant coaches to players to team managers. The Spartans’ return to the state finals will have to wait a year. The team has 10 seniors and of the seven Spartans that played Tuesday, six were seniors.

“This team sacrificed a lot to get here,” Argenal said. “They have every right to be upset because it had to end here. But this group believed in one another. We’ll be back.”

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